Please note that there seem to have been two Nathan Howeses from Massachusetts born around the same time and the Sprague website (or their source) appears to have mixed them up. The Howes genealogy book must be viewed as the definitive source.

So, Sprague had the Nathan, married to Nabby, father of Lemuel, Asa, Nathan, Paulina and Minerva as coming from Yarmouth, son of Nathan Howes and Rebecca Whitmarsh and born 6 Dec 1786.

Howes genealogy has Nathan, married to Nabby, father of Lemuel, Asa, Nathan, Paulina and Minerva as coming from Ashfield, son of Zachariah Howes and Lavinia Sears and born 28 Oct 1786